USDA Announces Largest Beef Recall In History

Millions of pounds of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse have been recalled.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled more than 140-million pounds of frozen beef Sunday from Westland/Hallmark Meat Company in what officials are calling the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

Westland/Hallmark Meat Company supplies meat to the federal school lunch program and some fast-food chains. The USDA says the recall affects beef products dating back to February 1, 2006.

More than 100 school districts around the nation have already stopped using the company's beef in their menus.

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark and launched an investigation after undercover video from the Human Society surfaced showing sick and crippled animals being pushed around at the company's Chino, California slaughterhouse.

Most of the meat has probably already been consumed and this recall resulted not from any proof of contamination but from a violation of their rules.

As the investigation goes forward the USDA will have to determine how its own inspectors and veterinarians, who are at the plant at all times, completely missed the fact that abuse of sick animals was taking place.

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